'Spring cleaning' begins at federal agencies

by Scott Thuman, Sinclair Broadcast Group

The Capitol is seen at sunrise in Washington, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers plan to continue their uphill effort to exhume the House GOP's health care bill, but remain adrift and divided over how to reshape it to attract enough votes to muscle it through the chamber. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON —

Spring means the deep freeze is over, at least when it comes to government jobs.

Trump promised he'd trim the government fat, and now federal agencies are on the clock, time ticking away before they have to submit a June 30 "re-organization" plan.

That may mean fewer employees, and downsizing.

“It’ll mean less services to the American public…it could also hurt Maryland’s economy, take the SS admin for example, if you’re cutting positions there, it means fewer people are going to get their SS checks on time,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D- Maryland).

But in a survey of federal employees, when asked if their agency effectively deals with poor performers who can't or won't improve, only 29 percent said yes.

“Just like a business operation, you need to understand how the agencies work, what they do, where the efficiencies are," said C.R.E.W. vice chair and board member Richard Painter.

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said a reorganization of the government's $4 million employees can be helpful but only after cabinet nominees are confirmed and can oversee it first-hand.

“If they go into the agencies and start gutting parts of the agencies without understanding how they work we are going to have comp chaos.”

The White House said a reorganization should unite Democrats and Republicans.